AU2020100458A4

AU2020100458A4 - Improvements in Drying Racks

Info

Publication number: AU2020100458A4
Application number: AU2020100458A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Ellis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-03-26
Filing date: 2020-03-25
Publication date: 2020-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 2028-03-25

Abstract

-12 Abstract A rack for drying clothes, the rack including a movable support and a plurality of moveable drying sections coupled at spaced apart locations to the support, wherein the rack is moveable between, a deployed condition in which the support is extended and the drying sections are movable so as to extend outwardly from the support to facilitate the drying of clothes, and a second stowed condition in which the drying sections are movable toward the support and the support is at least one of folded and retracted. A related method of use is also disclosed. 32 )6L uoc Figure 1

Description

Improvements in Drying Racks

Related Applications [001] This application claims priority from Australian provisional patent application no. 2019901015 filed on 26 March 2019, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

Technical Field [002] The invention relates to improvements in drying racks, in particular, foldable and/or storable clothes drying racks that are adaptable to different installation situations.

Background [003] Clothes racks are available in many different sizes and configurations. One type of clothes drying rack includes a rectangular top section with spanning lines and a foldable base that folds out with a scissor action to sit on a floor surface with the rectangular top section horizontal and elevated thereabove.

[004] Such a foldable drying rack has the disadvantage of having a relatively low hanging capacity and also occupying a relatively large amount of floor space which is at a premium in some situations such as apartment living or on a balcony. Moreover, as the drying rack is loaded with hanging clothes, it may become unstable and topple.

[005] The invention disclosed herein seek to overcome one or more of the above identified problems or at least provide a useful alternative.

-22020100458 25 Mar 2020

Summary [006] In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a rack for drying clothes, the rack including a movable support and a plurality of moveable drying sections coupled at spaced apart locations to the support, wherein the rack is moveable between, a deployed condition in which the support is extended and the drying sections are movable so as to extend outwardly from the support to facilitate the drying of clothes, and a second stowed condition in which the drying sections are movable toward the support and the support is at least one of folded and retracted.

[007] In aspect, the rack is moveable to a third condition, in which the moveable support is extended and wherein at least one of the drying sections is extended outwardly from the moveable support and at least one other of the drying sections is folded alongside the movable support.

[008] In another aspect, each of the moveable drying sections are independently moveable relative to one another.

[009] In yet another aspect, the movable support is adapted to be engaged between a lower surface and a relatively upper surface.

[0010] In yet another aspect, the lower surface is a floor and the upper surface is a roof or wall.

[0011] In yet another aspect, the movable support includes a base for engaging the lower surface and a head for engaging the upper surface.

[0012] In yet another aspect, at least one of the base and the head are adjustably extendable relative to the movable support.

[0013] In yet another aspect, one or more of the moveable drying sections include clothes hanging parts.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the clothes hanging parts include lines or bars.

-32020100458 25 Mar 2020 [0015] In yet another aspect, the moveable drying sections include a drying frame and the lines or bars span the drying frame.

[0016] In yet another aspect, the drying frame of each of the moveable drying sections are pivotally coupled to the movable support.

[0017] In yet another aspect, the moveable drying sections are foldably coupled to the movable support.

[0018] In yet another aspect, the movable support includes a plurality of foldable support sections coupled to one another.

[0019] In yet another aspect, the plurality of foldable support sections each include a support frame.

[0020] In yet another aspect, the moveable drying sections include a drying frame and wherein the support frame of an associated one of the pluralities of foldable support sections is arranged to allow nesting of the drying frame in the stowed condition.

[0021] In yet another aspect, the drying frame is arranged horizontally in the deployed condition.

[0022] In yet another aspect, the moveable support includes one or more securing parts adapted to releasably secure the plurality of foldable support sections in the deployed condition.

[0023] In accordance with a first broad aspect there is provided, a method of fitting a rack for drying clothes adjacent a wall between a floor surface and an upper surface, the method including the steps of: extending a moveable support to an extended condition adjacent the wall with lower and upper supports engaged with the floor surface and the upper surface respectively to hold the moveable support in compression; moving one or more of a plurality of independently moveable drying sections outwardly from the moveable support in a direction away from the wall such that clothes are hangable therefrom.

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Brief Description of the Figures [0024] The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, by reference to the accompanying figures, in which;

[0025] Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a rack for drying clothes in a deployed condition;

[0026] Figure 2 is a front view illustrating the rack with the moveable support and the drying sections folded toward the support;

[0027] Figure 3 is a side view illustrating the rack in a stowed condition with both of the moveable support and drying sections folded toward one another;

[0028] Figure 4 is a front view illustrating the rack in the stowed condition with both of the moveable support and drying sections folded toward one another;

[0029] Figure 5 is a side view illustrating the rack in an alternative deployed arrangement; and [0030] Figure 6 is a side view illustrating the rack in an alternative configuration so as to be free-standing.

Detailed Description [0031] Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a rack 10 for drying clothes or hanging or supporting other articles. The rack 10 includes a movable support 12 and a plurality of moveable drying sections 14 coupled at spaced apart locations to the support

12.

[0032] The rack 10 is moveable between, a first deployed condition as shown in Figure 1 in which the support 12 is extended and the drying sections 14 are movable so as to extend outwardly from the support 12 to facilitate the drying of clothes, and a second stowed condition in which the drying sections 14 are movable toward the support 12

-52020100458 25 Mar 2020 and the support 12 is collapsed, such as by being folded or retracted, as shown in Figure

3.

[0033] In more detail, the movable support 12 includes a plurality of foldable support sections 16 that are coupled to one another via pivots or hinges 18. Each of the plurality of foldable support sections 16 include a support frame 20 that is generally rectangular in shape. The pivots or hinges 18 may include a lock or retainer (not shown) to hold the pivots or hinges 18 in the deployed and/or the stowed conditions. In some examples, one, many or all of the couplings, more specifically the pivots or hinges 18, may be replaced with removable fixed joints such as a removeable T-joint or part, that allows the movable support 12 to be moved into place and then assembled with the support sections 16 fixed in a desired orientation with the moveable drying sections 14 supported and extending therefrom.

[0034] The moveable drying sections 14 each include a drying frame 22 that is generally rectangular in shape and one or more clothes hanging parts 24 fitted to the drying frame 22. In this example, the clothes hanging parts 24 include lines or bars 26 spanning the drying frame 22. Each of the drying frames 22 are independently coupled via pivots or hinges 28 to respective ones of the support frames 20. This allows the drying frames 22 to be independently stowed and extended relative to the associated one of the support frames 20.

[0035] In the deployed condition, the drying frames 22 generally extend perpendicularly to the support frames 20 and are horizontally arranged to allow hanging of clothes therefrom, as best shown in Figure 1. It is noted that the drying frames 22 preferably extend only from a front side 21 of the support structure 12 thereby allowing the other side 23 of the support frames 20 to be arranged against or close to a vertical wall. However, the rack 10 does not need to engage the vertical wall. The drying frame 22 is dimensioned to fit or nest within the support frame 20, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

[0036] Accordingly, the drying frames 22 not in use may be stowed and nested within respective support frames 20, as shown in Figure 2. This allows for a third condition, in which the moveable support 12 is extended and at least one of the drying sections 14

-62020100458 25 Mar 2020 is extended outwardly from the moveable support 12 and at least one of the drying sections 14 is folded and stowed alongside the movable support 12.

[0037] Moreover, the overall rack 10 may be modified in size by adding or removing rack modules 30 (indicated as 30a to 30e inclusive) that include one of the support frames 20 and one of the drying frames 22 coupled thereto. Intermediate rack modules 30b to 30d may be similarly configured, and the upper and lower most modules 30a and 30e may also be fitted with an upper or ceiling engaging arrangement 31 with upper or ceiling engaging parts or a head 32, and a lower floor engaging arrangement 33 with lower floor engaging parts 34, respectively.

[0038] The upper engaging parts 32 include a telescopic member 35 with a pad 36 that is engageable with an upper surface such as a wall, ceiling or roof. The telescopic member 35 may be secured in an extended position with a securing part 38. The lower floor engaging parts 34 includes an extendable foot 40 that in this example includes a threaded rod 42. The arrangements 31, 33 place the moveable support 12 generally under compression to hold the rack 10 in a preferable vertical orientation between a floor and a ceiling.

[0039] In use, the rack 10 is typically moved to the deployed condition by unfolding the plurality of foldable supports 16 so that the moveable support 12 is more or less straight. The telescopic member 35 of the upper engagement arrangement 31 is extended, usually to the ceiling (but this may be a side wall, roof beam or similar) to more-or-less the correct height. The lower floor engaging arrangement 33 is then used for fine adjustment by rotating the threaded rod 42 to extend the foot 40.

[0040] The upper engaging arrangement 31 and lower floor engaging arrangement 33 thereby placing the support frames 20 under compression and thereby securing the rack 10 in place between, for example, a ceiling and a floor without the rack 10 needing a freestanding base and without needing invasive securing to a wall such as with fastener. However, it is noted that an example of the rack 10 as shown in Figure 6 may be optionally configured to be free standing. The drying frames 22 may then be independently deployed, as required.

-72020100458 25 Mar 2020 [0041] The rack 10 may be pivoted at different locations such as that shown in Figure 5 in which an upper section 43 of the rack 10 is pivoted horizontally and a lower section 44 is vertically arranged with the drying frames 22 extending therefrom. In this arrangement, the upper engaging arrangement 31 may be engaged with a wall. The drying frames 22 in the upper section 43 remain useable and nested within in the support frames 20.

[0042] Referring to Figure 6, there is shown a further example of the rack 10 in which an optional front support leg 50 may be fitted to the lower most drying frame 22 and a locking strut 52 may also be fitted between the drying frame 22 and the adjacent support frame 20. This arrangement allows the rack 10 to be used without the upper or ceiling engaging arrangement 31 being engaged with the ceiling.

[0043] Advantageously, there has been described a rack for drying clothes that is moveable between a deployed condition and a compact stowed condition. The rack is arranged to be secured non-invasively by compression between a floor and ceiling surface and has one side that may sit more-or-less directly adjacent a side wall surface. The drying frames are independently moveable relative to the relevant support frames and nest neatly within the support frames when stowed. The rack is also modular so it can be easily made to difference sizes and is adaptable to different installation situations such as being partly pivoted over to abut with a side wall or having an additional support fitted so that the rack may be free standing.

[0044] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word comprise, and variations such as comprises and comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0045] The reference in this specification to any known matter or any prior publication is not, and should not be taken to be, an acknowledgment or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field to which this specification relates.

-8[0046] While specific examples of the invention have been described, it will be understood that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0047] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

Claims

The claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. A rack for drying clothes, the rack including a movable support and a plurality of moveable drying sections coupled at spaced apart locations to the support, wherein the rack is moveable between, a deployed condition in which the support is extended and the drying sections are movable so as to extend outwardly from the support to facilitate the drying of clothes, and a second stowed condition in which the drying sections are movable toward the support and the support is at least one of folded and retracted.
2. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the rack is moveable to a third condition, in which the moveable support is extended and wherein at least one of the drying sections is extended outwardly from the moveable support and at least one other of the drying sections is folded alongside the movable support.
3. The rack according to claim 1, wherein each of the moveable drying sections are independently moveable relative to one another.
4. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the movable support is adapted to be engaged between a lower surface and a relatively upper surface.
5. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface is a floor and the upper surface is a roof or wall.
6. The rack according to any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein the movable support includes a base for engaging the lower surface and a head for engaging the upper surface.
7. The rack according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the base and the head are adjustably extendable relative to the movable support.
8. The rack according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the moveable drying sections include clothes hanging parts.

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9. The rack according to claim 8, wherein the clothes hanging parts include lines or bars.
10. The rack according to claim 9, wherein the moveable drying sections include a drying frame and the lines or bars span the drying frame.
11. The rack according to claim 10, wherein the drying frame of each of the moveable drying sections are pivotally coupled to the movable support.
12. The rack according to claim 1, wherein the moveable drying sections are foldably coupled to the movable support.
13. The rack according to claim 12, wherein the movable support includes a plurality of foldable support sections coupled to one another.
14. The rack according to claim 13, wherein the plurality of foldable support sections each include a support frame.
15. The rack according to claim 14, wherein the moveable drying sections include a drying frame and wherein the support frame of an associated one of the pluralities of foldable support sections is arranged to allow nesting of the drying frame in the stowed condition.
16. The rack according to claim 15, wherein the drying frame is arranged horizontally in the deployed condition.
17. The rack according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the moveable support includes one or more securing parts adapted to releasably secure the plurality of foldable support sections in the deployed condition.
18. A method of fitting a rack for drying clothes adjacent a wall between a floor surface and an upper surface, the method including the steps of:

a. Extending a moveable support to an extended condition adjacent the wall with lower and upper supports engaged with the floor surface and

-lithe upper surface respectively to hold the moveable support in compression;

b. Moving one or more of a plurality of independently moveable drying sections outwardly from the moveable support in a direction away from the wall such that clothes are hangable therefrom.